Battery pack



Oct. 1943- l... v. MERRILL 2,333,028

BATTERY PACK Filed May 16, 1941 NVENTOR Lawrence fi'ctor Mar/"iii ATTORNEYS WITNESSES I Patented'oct. 26, 1943 BATTERY PACK Lagrence Victor Merrill, Brooklyn, N. Y., aslignor Meats Radio Hearing York, N. 1.,

Device Corp., New

a corporation of Delaware Application May 16, 1941, Serial No. 393,771 3 Claims. (Cl. 136-173) This invention relates to improvements in hearing devices for deaf persons and those whose hearing is aflected.

' An object of the invention is the provision of improvements in a hearing device which render it more adaptable for the use, convenience and comfort of a person requiring such device.

A further object of the invention is the provision for a hearing device of a battery pack afiording an electrical energy input to a microphone of the vacuum-tube audio-amplifier type, and also aflordingan electrical energy output to a suitable receiver constituting a part of the device.

A further object is the provision of a battery pack of the indicated character which is designed and adapted for direct connection with and to serve as a support for a microphone of the type mentioned, or which, by the use of an extension cord, may be remotely connected with said microphone if desired.

A further object is the provision of a battery pack for a hearing device which is compact, and one which accommodates batteries or cells of difierent sizes as to length to meet different voltage requirements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combinations, constructions and functions of the parts as defined in the appended claims, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompany-ing drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a battery pack and microphone, the latter being shown partly in section and a portion thereof being broken away, and a pack carrier being shown in dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the battery pack itself;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, the section being taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the I arrows;

. and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, the section being taken on the line 6-4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a view of an extension cord used in conjunction with the battery pack and microphone.

In the drawing there are shown a battery pack it, a transmitter or microphone II and an extension cord i2, these being involved in the present invention. The microphone II is of the vacuum-tube audio-amplifier type, and when mounted on the pack II in electrical connection therewith the pack furnishes an electrical energy input to the microphone and also iumishes an electrical energy output to a suitable receiver constituting a part of a hearing device. When it'is desired to associate the microphone ll remotely from the pack I ll, use is made of the extension cord II, in which case the pack M will furnish an electrical energy input to the microphone while the extension cord l2 aflords the electrical energy output to the aforesaid receiver.

The battery pack lo includes a substantially rectangular flat plate I! of insulating material, such as fibre, Bakelite, or hard rubber. An upper contact plate H is fixedly secured to the upper end of the plate l3 so as to project laterally at a right angle with respect thereto and for this purpose said plate It has depending lugs l5 and I6 integral with the plate H and arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other. Fastening elements, such as screws I1, extend through holes respectively in the lugs l5 and I6 and are driven into the plate IS. The plate I 4 has a hole l8 therein, the wall of which is beveled or flared downwardly. This plate It constitutes a positive contact. Below the plate It at a suitable distance is detachably secured a U-shaped spring l9 consisting of spaced parallelportions 20 and 2| which are connected by an intermediate portion 22. Each ofthe portions 20 and 2| is L-shaped. The spring I! is held in place by fastening elements 23 and 24, which are received in eyes respectively provided by the portions 20 and 21 and extending through holes respectively in the plate l3 and having nuts to securely fasten the elements to said plate. The elements 23 and 24 constitute binding posts. It is to be understood that the spring I9 is made of conducting material, such as spring wire stock. A lower contact 25 of a generally Y-shape is developed from a single piece of conducting metal to provide a pressure member 26, axially aligned eyes 21, and retaining lugs 28. The intermediate portion 22 of the spring I 9 extends through the eyes 21, by virtue of which the contact 25 is pivotally connected with the spring [9. Normally the portion of the spring i9 which extends laterally with respect to the plate I3 is disposed at an acute angle with respect thereto in order to make the contact 25 cooperate effectually with the contact plate I4 when a battery. such as the A battery 29,'is arranged between the same. The battery 29 may be set in place by bringing the lower end thereof in engagement with the lugs 28 and then exerting a downward pressure on the battery tocause the spring I9 to yield suillciently so that the positive terminal 30 of the battery is engageable in the hole III. The member 26 01' the contact 25 will press on the casing of the battery 29, which is the negative pole. Consequently, the contact 25 is a negative contact. A substantially L-shaped contact 3i having a cam 32 is rigidly secured to the upper end of the plate I3 on the side thereof opposite that on which the plate I4 is disposed. The contact 2| is held in place by screws 33 driven into the plate I3. The contact 3| is of metal having the proper degree of resiliency. This contact 3| is the positive contact. An L-shaped contact 34 having a cam 35 issecured to the plate l3 by screws 36. This contact 34 is of metal having the desired resiliency and is the negative-contact. The contacts 3| and 34 cooperate to detachably support a 3" battery 31. The battery 31 may be moved sidewise into position against the cams 32 and 35 engaged by the upper and lower ends respectively of the battery, causing the contacts to flex sufficiently and then to reflex so that the contact 3| engages the opposite pole and the contact 34 engages the negative pole of the battery 31.

The battery pack III also includes a head 38 of insulating material, such as Bakelite, hard rubber, or any other suitable material. The head 38 is oblong and has an oblong recess 39 in the top and an oblong recess 40 in the bottom. The head 38 is rigidly secured in place over the partition plate I3, contact plate and contact 3|, by means of screws 4I extending through holes in the plate I4 and driven into the head 38 from theunder side. The head 38 carries electrical terminals 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 respectively, which are disposed upright in a row spaced from each other. The terminals have their lower threaded ends screwed into the head 38 and are similar in cross-sectional size and length, with the exception of the terminal 42 which is longer than the others and has its lower end screwed into the plate I4 so as to make electrical connection therewith. The terminals rise from the recesses 39. It will be apparent that the terminal 42 beotherwise secured to the lug I as at 50. Current,

therefore, flows from. the B battery 31 through contact 34, conductor 41, plate I4 and terminal 42. This terminal 42 is therefore an A+ B terminal. There is an electrical connection 5| between the contact 3I and the terminal 43 and it is, therefore a 3+ terminal. An electrical conductor or wire 52 ha one end thereof connected with the binding post 23 and its opposite end connected with theterminal 44 and it is, therefore, an A- terminal. The terminals 42, 43 and 44 as connected with the batteries 29 and 31 constitute means for furnishing an electrical energy input to the microphone I I when connected therewith as shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with another feature 01 the invention electrical sockets 53, 54 and 55 respectively are secured to and extend through the head 38. The sockets 53 and 54 are arranged on the right side or the head, while the socket 55 is arranged on the left side or thesame. Each of the sockets projects into the recess 40. An electrical conductor or wire 53 has the opposite ends thereof connected with the terminal 45 and the socket 53 respectively. An electrical conductor or wire 51 has the opposite ends thereof connected with the terminal 43 and the socket 54 respectively. If desired, this connection may be made directly to the terminal 43 or by joining it to the conductor 5I. An electrical conductor or wire 59 has the opposite ends thereor connected with the terminal 46 and socket 55 respectively. The microphone II has five electrical sockets corresponding to the terminals 42, 43, 44, 45, and 45 to receive the same to establish electrical connection in order that the electrical energy input will be furnished to the microphone as stated above. and the terminals 43 and 45 as connected with the sockets 54 and 53 constitute means to furnish an electrical energy output from the microphone I I to a suitable receiver when the terminals there. of are plugged into the sockets 53 and 54. This is resorted to when use is made of a high impedance receiver. ceiver is used the terminals thereof are plugged into the sockets 54 and 55 respectively to obtain the sound output from the microphone II.

As shown in Fig. 1, the microphone II is mounted directly on the battery pack in electrical connection therewith to constitute a single unit to be carried on the person. However, when it is desired for the sake of convenience and greater comfort, the microphone is remotely connected with the battery pack by the use of the extension cord I2 shown in Fig. '1. This cord has a multiple socket 59 on one end to receive the terminals 42, 43, 44, 45 and 45, and the other end of the cord I2 has a multiple plug 59 having five terminals corresponding to the terminals 42, 43, 44, 45 and 45 receivable in the sockets of the microphone II. When the cord -I2 is used the terminals GI and 62 of a receiver are plugged into suitable sockets in th plug 50 to contact the audion terminals in order to furnish a sound output from the microphone to the ear-piece of a high impedance receiver. In case a low impedance receiver is used the terminal 52 is plugged into the socket 55.

In order to accommodate batteries of diflerent lengths the plate I3 has extra holes 53 extending therethrough to receive the fastenin elements 23 and 24 to mount the spring I9 and parts connected therewith at a lower position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Also extra holes 64 in the plate I3 accommodate the screws 35 respectively to mount the contact 34 lower down, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The plate I3 and head 38 constitute a structure of substantially T-shape which serves for compactly supporting two batteries, means for detachably engaging and retaining the batteries in place, the terminals and sockets together with conducting means leading from said engaging means to the terminals and sockets. The provision and arrangement of parts constitute a compact and unitary device which is designed and adapted for direct connection with and serves as a support for ,the microphone of the hearing device.

It is to be understood that the battery pack II When a low impedance re-' will be arranged in a suitable open top receptacle or case, shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1 and said receptacle being designated 65. When the battery pack is arranged in the receptacle 6! only the head 38 and parts carried thereby will be disposed above the upper end thereof, as clearly shown.

I claim:

1. In a battery pack, an insulator, a fixed contact on said insulator, a U-shape wire spring consisting of spaced parallel bent portions connected by an intermediate portion, part of said bent portions extending laterally with respect to said insulator; means connecting said bent portions to said insulator to secure the spring in place, a

contact pivotally connected with said intermediate portion whereby said last contact is resiliently mounted to cooperate with said fixed contact to detachably support a battery cell with the terminals thereof in electrical connection with wherein said resiliently mounted contact has portions for engaging the side and also the bottom respectively of said cell.

LAWRENCE VICTOR MERRILL. 

